The competition requires that participants don the symbol of modesty and faith. It celebrates style and elegance along with religious piety, development of humanitarian intelligence and strength of character. Prizes include everything from pilgrimage trips to scholarships.

Source: huffingtonpost.com

Yes, there are a lot of differences separating Miss Muslimah, a Muslim beauty pageant in Yogakarta, Indonesia, from those broadcast across the Western world.

Instead of bathing suits there are headscarfs, competitors pray five times a day, and the winner is chosen by a jury of orphaned children.

The process is grueling, with participants getting as little as three hours of sleep a night. A typical day consists of visiting impoverished slums and elderly homes, and speaking with corporate sponsors, all while praying five times a day — and wearing heels.

Throughout the pageant, challenges include reciting Quran passages, volunteering in nursing homes, debating Muslim values and touring impoverished communities.

After attending and documenting the competition in 2014, photojournalist Monique Jaques realized that the young women weren’t that different from their Western counterparts.

“I believe that this idea that the West has that the lives Muslim women lead are so different from ours is outdated and naive,” Jaques explained to The Huffington Post. “The girls had as much in common with any other young girl in America. They talked about makeup, television shows and friends just like [many] young women do.”

The World Muslimah Award was established by Eka Shanty in 2011, after the former television reporter was removed from her position following a refusal to remove her hijab on screen.

The competition, which enlists 18 young Muslim women from around the world, requires that participants don the symbol of modesty and faith. The event celebrates style and elegance along with religious piety, development of humanitarian intelligence and strength of character. Prizes include everything from pilgrimage trips to scholarships.

Read more @ huffingtonpost.com